Commercial Architecture April 2017 - 41

PROJECT

hvac

old, under-the-window unit ventilators were either

nothing quite like a working demo in a setting not un-

demo was the noise-or better-the lack of it," said

sweating or shivering. In the mornings, the ventilators

like the classrooms they needed to improve," said Bol-

White. "We learned about the equipment's impressive

would be blasting heat and late,r as the thermostat was

house. White and Morgenstern saw a variety of HVAC

sound-lab performance, but it was most impressive to

satisfied, outside air was brought in to improve indoor

equipment that day.

see and hear the equipment during our tour. We were

air quality and student health."

After further research into equipment capable of

certain that we'd found the right technology for our

But the fresh air entering the rooms became a text-

solving problems at the school district, they chose

book lesson in thermal shock. Cold air immediately

Modine Manufacturing's (Racine, WI) Airedale

conditioned students and teachers; the discomfort was

Classmate DX cooling-and-heat pump," continued

CLASSROOM REPLACEMENTS

so routine that they knew to have their winter jackets

Bolhouse.

For the five schools, 132 Modine Airedale Classmate DX

nearby for use when needed.

"One of the first things that stuck out to me at the

schools."

cooling-and-heat-pump units were specified, and two

"Another issue that we would get regular complaints about was the noise of the units," continued
White. "Teachers constantly had to yell to be heard
over the incessant drone of the HVAC equipment.
Remember Charlie Brown's teacher [with a voice like
a muffled lullaby]? That's how our teachers sounded
to students before we got a new heating and cooling
system; they couldn't stay awake," he said. "Our
HVAC woes became a huge distraction."
White contacted Scott Morgenstern, senior mechanical engineer for Kingscott Associates, an architectural and engineering firm, based in nearby Kalamazoo, MI.
"Nick informed me that the school district was
looking to do a significant amount of renovating and
remodeling in all of the schools," explained Morgenstern. "The bulk of work to be funded was slated to
improve classroom HVAC systems, replacing old unit
ventilators with new, quiet, energy-efficient ones.
"The old systems were not only noisy, but they
weren't providing sufficient air distribution," Morgenstern added. "They were basically oversized fancoil units that sat under classroom windows with the

endless
always has a solution.

sole purpose of making life miserable for students
and teachers."
Overheating and under heating were sure to affect
daily classroom conditions. The discomfort was palpable. Outdoor conditions played an enormous role;
another key variable was the location of a student's
chair. Teachers could move their desk, or walk around
the room, but students were usually unable to make
improvements. "Clearly, we needed a way to provide
comfort within the schools," said White.
Morgenstern turned to Scott Bolhouse, at Bolhouse LLC, a manufacturer's representative based in
Jenison, MI.
"Scott contacted me with a need for a high volume
of unit ventilators," said Bolhouse. "He explained the
troubles Lakeshore schools were experiencing. The
school district needed equipment that would offer
consistent temperatures year round, quietly and efficiently."
Bolhouse took White and Morgenstern on a tour
of nearby locations with unit ventilators already in-

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stalled and running. "We've found that it always
helps to demonstrate equipment operation; there's
CIRCLE 218

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Commercial Architecture April 2017